Production of crops, including rice, maize, potatoes, vegetables, and fruits, is on the rise as a result of the agri-oriented policies of the government.

In FY 2008–09, the total production of food grains was 328.96 lakh metric tonnes. By FY2022-23, this increased by approximately 42% to 467.03 lakh metric tonnes, said Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali while delivering his speech on the national budget for FY2024-25 on Thursday.

In the last 14 fiscal years, maize production rose by 780%, potato production by 98%, and vegetable production by 675%, he said.

“As a result of the revolution in agricultural production, despite being the most densely populated country in the world, Bangladesh ranks 3rd globally in terms of the production of rice, vegetables, and onions, 2nd in jute production, 4th in tea production, and 7th in the production of potatoes and mangoes,” Mahmood Ali said.

With a view to preventing food wastage and ensuring food security, the storage capacity of food godowns has been increased to 21.86 lakh metric tonnes, with plans to further increase it to 29 lakh metric tonnes in the next fiscal year, the finance minister said.